Homeowners Willing to Embrace Energy-Efficient Products...If the Price is Right

Ask a half-dozen window and door manufacturers what defines a green product and you’re likely to receive as many different answers. What they all seem to agree on, however, is that residential customers are sensitive to cost increases unaccompanied by perceived value...read more

Grille Supplier Turns to New Coating to Meet Color Needs
Creative Millwork, an Ohio-based supplier of standard and custom window and door grille products to window and door manufacturers and distributors, serves more than 60 customers, providing up to 10 standard grille colors for each, as well as custom colors...read more

A new law will soon go into effect in New Jersey requiring home improvement contractors to wear a state-issued ID badge at all times. According to an article on the Remodeling Magazine website, the law is designed to help protect homeowners from scam artists in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

The badge must be worn on the upper left torso of the contractor "whenever the contractor is performing, or engaging, or attempting to engage, in the business of making or selling home improvements," the law states. The ID shall include a color photograph of the contractor's face, the contractor's name, the contractor's registration number, and the name of the contractor's business, displayed in a manner that
will be plainly visible. A contractor will need to obtain a new identification badge at least once every six years.

What do you think of such state requirements for contractors? That's our poll question of the week. And, of course, we'd like to hear what you think. Are state IDs an effective tool against fly-by-night contractors? Do they create too much red tape? Should window and door dealers have any particular concerns? Post a comment and share your thoughts.

State-required ID badges for contractors are likely to have:

A positive impact on the window and door business

A negative impact on the window and door business

Little effect one way or the other on the window and door business

Does Your Company Go Out of Its Way to Hire Veterans?

More than half of survey respondents said veterans are a minority of their workforce...read more

Time is running out to register and attend GlassBuild America. Hotel blocks are filling fast, with some hotels already sold out. On the Road to GlassBuild this week, we help your planning with a contest to enter while you register. So beat the deadline and become eligible to take home a prize! Also in this week's edition, we profile yet another amazing exhibitor showing off the hottest technology around: dynamic glazing. More and more applications are calling for this technology, and this week, we catch up with another of the big suppliers of this cutting-edge material.